Hybrid tea rose plant named ‘MOJAVE SUNSET’

ABSTRACT

A new variety of Hybrid Tea rose suitable for garden decoration, having flowers of orange coloration with golden yellow centers.

Classification: The present invention relates to a new Rosa hybridaplant.

Variety denomination: The new plant has the varietal denomination‘MOJAVE SUNSET’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct Hybrid Tea Rosevariety which was originated by crossing as seed and pollen parents twounnamed, undistributed, unpatented seedlings. The varietal denominationof this new rose is ‘MOJAVE SUNSET’. Among the novel characteristicspossessed by the new variety which distinguish it from other knownvarieties, are its attractive center petals of golden yellow whichtransition into orange petals along the edges.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Among the features which distinguish the new variety from otherpresently available and commercial rose cultivars known to the inventoris the following combination of characteristics: The plant has a compactupright growing growth habit, suitable for outdoor garden decoration.

Asexual reproduction of the new variety by budding as performed in KernCounty Calif., shows that the foregoing and other distinguishingcharacteristics come true to form and are established and transmittedthrough succeeding asexual propagations. ‘Mojave Sunset’ may beasexually propagated by cuttings, budding and grafting. The budding andgrafting successfully occurred on the plant/rootstock Rosa hybrida cv.‘Dr. Huey’ (unpatented).

COMPARISON WITH THE CLOSEST COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE CULTIVAR

The new variety may be distinguished from its closest commerciallyavailable cultivar, ‘Tahitian Sunset’ by the following combination ofcharacteristics: similar in coloration but not as intense, softer huesof oranges, yellows, and light pink.

It was found the new variety of hybrid tea rose of the present inventionpossesses the following characteristics:

-   -   A) Unique multi-colored bloom;    -   B) Exhibits an erect growth habit;    -   C) Forms attractive green foliage;    -   D) Exhibits good disease resistance; and    -   E) Is suitable as garden rose for decoration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATION

The accompanying photograph, FIG. 1, illustrates the new variety andshows the flowering thereof from bud to full bloom depicted in color asnearly correct as it is possible to make in a color illustration of thecharacter.

Throughout this specification, color references and/or values are basedupon The Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society (1966) exceptwhere common terms of color definition are employed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following description is of two year-old rose plants of the newvariety grown outdoors in Wasco, Calif. in the month of October.Phenotypic expression may vary with environmental, cultural and climaticconditions, as well as differences in conditions of light and soil.

FLOWER

The new variety sometimes usually bears its flowers singly, withoccasional clusters of two to five. Flowers are borne singly, or inirregular rounded clusters on long strong stems, approximately 35 cm to42 cm in length. Outdoors, the plant blooms nearly continuously duringthe growing season. The flowers have a slight tea fragrance.

BUD

The peduncle is about 4 cm to about 6 cm in length, of heavy caliper isabout 3 cm to about 5 cm in diameter, and usually erect. It is usuallysmooth, with few stipitate glands, and few hairs and prickles. Pedunclecolor is near between 145b and 145c.

Before the calyx breaks, the bud is about 1 cm to about 2 cm in diameterat the widest point, about 1.2 cm to about 2.5 cm in length, ovoid inshape with a conspicuous neck. The surface of the bud bears somefoliaceous appendages, stipitate glands and glandular bloom with usualobserved receptacle diameter of 1 cm. The slender bristle-likefoliaceous parts extend beyond the tip of the bud about one-fourth ormore of its length. The observed receptacle diameters are between 0.7 cmand 1.2 cm, with the typical diameter of 1 cm. Bud color is near 145b.

The sepals are about 2.8 cm to about 3.2 cm in length and about 1 cm toabout 1.5 cm in width at the widest point. The outer surface color ofthe sepal is near 145b and 145c. The inner surface color of the sepal isnear between 137c and 137b. Number of sepals observed ranged betweenfour and five. Typically 5 sepals are observed. The sepals are narrowlyovate to mucronate in shape. Sepal margins are lined with few stipitateglands and hairs with short pointed apex.

The receptacle of the flower is somewhat short in length, about 5 mm toabout 7 mm. The receptacle is ovoid in form. The surface is smooth. Thereceptacle color is near between 145c and 145d.

As the petals open (after the calyx breaks), the bud is about 2 cm toabout 2.8 cm in diameter at the widest point, about 3.5 cm to about 4.2cm in length, and somewhat ovoid in form. The color is close to 39a. Asthe petal opens the color of the inside surface is close to 39b on theedge, and close to 22b in the center. The color changes at the lastcentimeter of the base of the petal, to near 21b.

BLOOM

When fully open, the bloom ranges from about 8 cm to about 10 cm indiameter. Petalage is double with about 20 to 27 petals and about 2 to 3petaloids irregularly arranged. When partially open, the bloom form issomewhat flat to cupped, and the petals are loosely cupped to undulatedwith petal edges moderately rolled outward. When fully open, the bloomform is somewhat flat to cupped, and the petals are imbricated withpetal edges somewhat rolled outward.

PETALS

The substance of the petals is somewhat crisp and of medium thickness,with upper surfaces slightly satiny and under surfaces slightly satiny.The petals are about 4.2 cm to about 6.2 cm in length and about 4.1 cmto about 6.1 cm in width at the widest point. Petal margins are smooth,bearing a slight ruffle.

The outer petals are broadly round to obovate in shape with apexessomewhat rounded, usually slightly notched with one to two notches. Thebase is slightly thicker with color change to near 21b at the lastcentimeter of the petal.

The inner petals are broadly round to obovate in shape with apexessomewhat rounded, usually slightly notched with one to two notches. Thebase is slightly thicker with color change to near 21b at the lastcentimeter of the petal base.

Petaloids are about 0.5 cm to about 1 cm in length and about 0.4 cm toabout 0.8 cm in width at the widest point. Petaloids are shaped round toobovate, with smooth margins and tapering to a narrow base about 2 cmwide. The substance of the petaloids are somewhat crisp and of mediumthickness, with upper and under surfaces slightly satiny.

NEWLY OPENED FLOWER

The under surface color of the outer petals is close to 26a and 26b atthe base fusing close to 41c and 41d at the apexes.

The upper surface color of the outer petals is close to 26b and 26c atthe base gradually changing to 41d at the apexes.

The under surface color of the inner petals is near between 25c and 20c.The upper surface color of the inner petals is near between 25c and 25b.

The under and upper surface color of the petaloids are similar incoloration to the upper and under surfaces of the outer and innerpetals.

The general tonality of the newly opened flower is near between 26a and26b with 41c and 41d at the apexes.

THREE-DAY OLD FLOWER

The under surface color of the outer petals is close to 26a and 26b atthe base fusing close to 41c and 41d at the apexes.

The upper surface color of the outer petals is close to 26b and 26c atthe base gradually changing to 41d at the apexes.

The under surface color of the inner petals is near between 25c and 20c.The upper surface color of the inner petals is near between 25c and 25b.

The under and upper surface color of the petaloids are similar incoloration to the upper and under surfaces of the outer and inner petal.

On the spent bloom, the petals usually drop off cleanly except forpetaloids persist.

In October in Wasco, Calif., blooms on the bush growing outdoorsgenerally last about four to five days. Cut roses from plants grownoutdoors and kept at normal indoor living temperatures generally lastabout four to five days.

MALE REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

Stamens are many in number (average about 120) and are arrangedregularly about the pistils; a few are mixed with petaloids or tucked inthe calyx. The filaments are of moderately long length (about 0.5 cm toabout 1.3 cm) most with anthers. Filaments are between 13b and 12b incolor. The anthers are medium for the class and all open approximatelyat the same time. Anther color is between 23b and 12c when immature andnear between 200a and 167b at maturity. Pollen is abundant and between17c and 15b in color.

FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

Pistils vary in number (average about 90). The styles are moderatelyuneven, long in length (about 0.5 cm to about 1.2 cm), somewhat thin incaliper, and moderately separated to loosely bunched. Stigma color isnear 13c and 12b. Style color is near 150c and 150d. Ovaries are usuallyenclosed in the calyx.

Hips have not been observed on this variety when grown in Wasco, Calif.

FOLIAGE

The compound leaves are usually comprised of three to five leaflets andare borne in normal quantities. The five-leaflet leaves are about 12.7cm to about 15.9 cm in length and about 10.3 cm to about 12.8 cm inwidth at the widest point, moderately crisp in texture with normalthickness, and semi-glossy in finish. The terminal leaflets are about5.5 cm to about 8.0 cm in length and about 3.2 cm to about 5 cm in widthat the widest point, shaped obovate with obtuse apexes and somewhatround bases. Their margins are serrate.

The upper surface color of the mature leaf is near between 137a and137b. The under surface color of the mature leaf is near between 145aand 145b. The upper surface color of the young leaf is near between 138aand 138b. The under surface color of the young leaf is near between 145band 145c.

The rachis is average in caliper and rough, with an observed diameter of0.1 to 0.2 cm, and typical diameter of 0.1 cm. The observed length ofthe rachis is between 5-7.6 cm, with typical length of rachis 5.8 cm.The upper side is shallowly grooved with few hairs and stipitate glandsand prickles on the edges of the grooves. The underside of the rachis isrough with few hairs and stipitate glands and small to medium prickles.The rachis color is near between 146c and 146b.

The stipules are about 1.2 cm to about 1.4 cm in length and about 1 cmto about 1.5 cm in width with short to medium points that usually turnout at an angle of less than 45 degrees toward the stem. The stipulescolor is near between 146c and 146b. The stipules appear in pairs, witha thin leaf-like appendage that is near 0.2 cm wide attached to the baseof the petiole from the tip of the stipule down. Observed length ofstipule is between 0.5 cm and 1.2 cm. Typical length of stipule is 1.5cm.

The petiole is average in caliper and rough. The upper side is deeply tomoderately grooved with many hairs and stipitate glands and prickles onthe edges of the grooves. The petiole color is near between 146b and146c. The observed petiole length ranges between 0.1 cm to 1.5 cm, withthe typical petiole length of 0.2 cm from the side leaflets of thecompound leaf to the stipule, and the typical petiole length from thetop leaflet of the compound leaf to the end stipule of 1.2 cm.

The plant displays an average degree of resistance to powdery mildew andrust as compared to other commercial varieties grown under comparableconditions in Wasco, Calif. The plant's winter hardiness anddrought/heat tolerance are yet to be determined.

GROWTH

The plant has a compact upright medium height growth habit of about 110cm to about 125 cm in height and about 60 cm to about 40 cm spread atthe widest point, with full branching. It displays vigorous growth andthe canes are of medium caliper for the class.

The color of the major stems is near between 148a and 146a. They bearlarge prickles that are about 0.07 cm to about 1.1 cm in length. Thelarge prickles are almost straight and hooked slightly downward withmedium length to rounded base; prickle color is near 166d. The majorstem bears few small prickles of similar shape and coloration. There arefew fine coarse hairs of similar shape and coloration which are nearbetween 166c and 166d.

The color of the branches is near between 148a and 146b. They bear fewlarge prickles which are of similar size and shape to the large prickleson the major stems; prickle color is near 166c. The branches bearseveral small prickles of similar shape and coloration and which arenear 166c.

The color of the new shoots is near between 144a and 148b. They bearseveral large prickles which are of similar size and shape to the largeprickles on the major stems; prickle color is near 166c.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct Hybrid Tea rose plant of the varietysubstantially as described and illustrated herein.